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Luke Ashton: Betfair criticised by coroner over bettor's death

29 June 2023

ByDan Martin
BBC News

A coroner has discovered Betfair needs to have done more to assist a gaming addict before he killed himself.

Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, passed away in April 2021 after developing up huge financial obligations betting online.

An inquest heard he staked larger sums chasing his losses in the weeks before his death.

Coroner Ivan Cartwright said he was worried Betfair did not meaningfully communicate or step in when Mr Ashton's gambling activity increased.

He concluded betting condition was a reason for Mr Ashton's death.

Missed chances

The inquest, at Leicester Town Hall, heard before he died, Mr Ashton had been wagering more than 100 times a day, consisting of early in the morning and late during the night when his partner was asleep.

He placed 1,229 bets in March 2021 and on one day of that month alone he deposited ₤ 2,500.

Mr Cartwright said: "He was assessed as being a low-risk gambler although his activity was more extensive in the 10 weeks prior to his death.

"The operator did not intervene or connect with Mr Ashton in any meaningful way.

"Betfair might have done more in the relevant period and must have done more in what I find was a vital duration in between late January and April 2021.

"Opportunities were missed that could perhaps have actually altered the outcome for Luke."

Mr Ashton's body was found in a rented flat near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, after his partner reported him missing and his phone was tracked using an app.

Betfair was contacted us to give proof to the yohaig code inquest as Mr Cartwright looked for to establish whether the company's actions contributed to Mr Ashton's death.

Lawyers for Mr Ashton's household said the company needs to have identified him as a problem gambler and taken "more and more powerful actions" to keep him from harm.

Betfair told the inquest it used a computer system algorithm to monitor customer wagering which Mr Ashton was considered "low risk".

The company stated its algorithm found absolutely nothing in his wagering patterns that would set off human intervention that may have restricted his gambling.

Instead Mr Ashton was sent 8 automated and generic "awareness" e-mails by the company.

Tragic result

Mr Cartwright stated he was "perplexed" the algorithm did not flag Mr Ashton as an issue gambler.

He stated had that happened there were chances to get help for Mr Ashton who had actually had actually confessed his gambling problem to his better half in 2019 however later hid the truth he had actually started betting again.

Richard Clarke, the managing director of customer relations for Flutter UKI - Betfair's moms and dad business - provided evidence to the hearing and was asked by the the yohaig code household's attorneys if he felt the business should have done more.

Mr Clarke stated: "We have actually looked really thoroughly at the actions we took and we are positive we met the yohaig code regulative standard at the time.

"As a company, undoubtedly looking at the tragic result here, I would like to have actually done more."

He stated Betfair had actually introduced further safeguards since 2021, consisting of deposit limitations from customers returning from self-exclusion periods and financial vulnerability checks, but they was available in before the company was warned of Mr Ashton's death.

Mr Cartwright came to a narrative conclusion that Luke passed away as an outcome of his own actions.

He said he would prepare an Avoidance of Future Deaths Report with suggestions based on the "complex and unusual case".

After the hearing, Annie Ashton stated: "The coroner's conclusion validates what I have constantly thought that gaming caused Luke's death.

"It vindicates what I have argued all along that gaming is harmful, destroys families and triggers suicide."

She stated she hoped the inquest's findings would urgently trigger gambling firms to much better interact with clients.

She stated Betfair's evaluation of her partner as "low danger" was not fit for purpose.

Mrs Ashton explained her partner as a "brilliant pleased and bubbly individual" who made good friends quickly.

"As a partner and a daddy, Luke was absolutely nothing short of supportive and happy," she included.

"He was a genuine rock to all of us but in reality he masked his own pain to protect us from what he was going through."

Ian Brown, primary executive of Flutter UKI, stated: "We want to repeat our sincere acknowledgements to Mrs Ashton and her household. We are truly sorry for their loss.

"Flutter UKI is devoted to doing the best thing and creating an environment for customers to enjoy our products in a safe and sustainable method.

"Over the previous three years we have actually made substantial changes to our controls, consisting of necessary deposit limits for customers who go back to our sites after a duration of self-exclusion.

"We hold ourselves to the absolute greatest requirements in the market and we will, naturally, incorporate extra knowings from this promotion code awful case into our systems and processes."

If you have been impacted by any of the issues in this promotion code story, you can check out the BBC Action Line for assistance.

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